In 1936, newspapers across the United States breathlessly reported on a new craze sweeping the nation: knock-knock jokes — and they were at least as corny as today’s version. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “When Knock-Knock Jokes Were New”
You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.
I’m Grant Barrett.
And I’m Martha Barnette.
In 1936, there was a craze sweeping North America. It was written about on front pages of major newspapers from coast to coast. And it involves wordplay.
We’ve talked about it on the show before. They were knock-knock jokes.
Oh, knock-knock jokes. Yeah, written about on front pages of newspapers across the country. And it’s funny to go back and look at these newspaper articles. They’re just kind of breathless talking about this parlor game that everybody was playing. And it strikes me as so interesting that there was a point where knock-knock jokes didn’t exist. And then all of a sudden they exploded. And they’re still with us.
Yeah, they’re still with us. And they were pretty goofy back in those days, like knock-knock. Who’s there? Oklahoma. Oklahoma who? Oklahoma and wash your face.
Yeah, that’s not so good. Not so good? Well, how about this one? Knock-knock. Who’s there? Hiawatha. Hi, what the who? Oh, with a good girl until I met you. Oh, no. They’re terrible, right?
Can I give you my son’s favorite one? Yes. Can I? Okay. Will you remember me in a day? Yes. Will you remember me in a week? Yes. Will you remember me in a month? Yes. Will you remember me in a year? Yes. Will you remember me in a century? Yes. Okay. Knock, knock. Who’s there? What? You forgot me already?
Knock-knock jokes. They’re great. There’s an endless supply. And to me, it’s just so funny that in 1936, they were a huge thing. And then they got replaced by other parlor games about a year later. But they’ve always kind of stuck around. They’re in books and articles. Every kid knows a bunch. They’re always kids, right?
Yeah. They’re always kids. They’re always kids. But on the front page of newspapers, that’s surprising. Yeah. Yeah. A way to lighten the news, perhaps. I guess so. All around it was war and famine. And then you throw in the knock-knock jokes and lighten it up a bit.
Yeah. It went away faster than Pokemon. Did it? Pokemon Go! I’m still winning. Pokemon went. I’m still winning.
Well, this is a show about all kinds of goofing around when it comes to language. So call us, 877-929-9673, or send your emails to words@waywordradio.org.
